Super Mario Galaxy
Publisher: Nintendo
Developer: Nintendo
Release: November 12
Platform: Wii
ESRB: E

Looking at sales of Nintendo's graphically low-end but innovatively advanced Wii system wouldn't necessarily lead one to believe that the company needs a game designed to sell systems, but Nintendo arguably now has that in Super Mario Galaxy. As stellar as Twilight Princess may have been, as engrossing as Metroid Prime: Corruption has proven to be, Super Mario Galaxy is the game that Nintendo fans and Wii owners have been waiting for and is a compelling argument to buy the quirky system if you haven't already. Mario is as familiar to us as any celebrity or politician.

He's a celebrity on par with the likes of Michael Jordan, Britney Spears, or any instantly recognizable personality and the reason for that is a back catalogue of impressive appearances. They've all been topped with this, Mario's latest platforming foray. Princess Peach is abducted yet again and Mario must save the day as only he can, by collecting the items needed (stars this time, ala Mario 64) to power his spaceship and fly to the center of the galaxy and rescue the beloved Peach. Collecting all those stars will require a visit to every known galaxy and Mario's traversing some of the most amazingly designed platforming levels in video game history. It's all familiar fare, to be sure (it's a Mario game after all), but it is addicting, engrossing, challenging and, most of all, fun.

Uncharted: Drake's Fortune
Publisher: SCEA
Developer: Naughty Dog
Release: November 16
Platform: PS3
ESRB: T

What would you get if you tried to create the alien love child of Lara croft, Indiana Jones, and Pitfall Harry? Toss in a little gameplay inspired by Gears of War and a story that seems ripped out of Lucasfilm's Indy archives and you'd undoubtedly get Nathan Drake, the titular hero of Naughty Dog's newest game for the Playstation 3. On a system that is in desperate need of some really compelling games, Drake couldn't have shown up at a better time either. Uncharted may seem like familiar territory because Naughty Dog did not go to great lengths to mask its obvious influences, but that doesn't mean it's bad.

On the contrary the game is exciting and compelling and a blast to play. With beautiful environments, graphics that surpass anything we've seen on Sony's big system so far, and combat against enemies who may be nearly as smart (and almost as tough) as the player, Uncharted may be a bit too challenging for some, but it's a title that will go a long way toward making you feel better about what you spent on your PS3 whether you got it at its release price or after the most recent price drop. It also holds a lot of promise for what the system really is capable of.

Mass Effect
Publisher: Microsoft
Developer: Bioware
Release: November 20
Platform: XBOX 360
ESRB: M

Gamers have been awaiting the release of this game since God was a child it would seem and it has finally arrived. Mass Effect defines what "next generation" gaming is all about with characters that display realistic emotions, in-game conversations that seem more like real conversations than anything in gaming up until now, and graphics that boggle the mind. Oh yeah, the story isn't half bad either. with plot changing curveballs that come from out of nowhere and a concept that has humanoids taking a backseat politically to other races, playing Mass Effect is a little like acting out a really well written script based on a collaboration between Ray Bradbury, Isaac Asimov, and Phillip K. Dick. The game even includes character customization options that take far more than physical appearance into account and the choices the player makes during the customization process have a real effect on the gameplay and the way the story plays out. It's a technological achievement for Bioware and a boon to gamers everywhere.